NRL stars become superheroes for themed round 21
0:25

The NRL will undergo a superhero makeover ahead of round 21, with Captain America, Thor, Wolverine, Ironman and the Incredible Hulk.

Fox Sports

15 Jul 2014

Sport/NRL/Previews & Reviews

RABBITOHS (currently fourth on 22 points)

Round 19: v Eels (away)

Round 23 v Broncos (home)

Round 24 v Cowboys (home)

Round 26 v Roosters (away)

With the strongest points differential of all the clubs stuck in the logjam, the Rabbitohs have a great opportunity to snag a top four spot. But the form they showed against the Titans last start was horrendous and will need to improve just to secure a spot in the eight. Wins against the Eels, Broncos and Cowboys would make it difficult for those sides to qualify.

An inconsistent season has put the defending champions in a tight spot, facing the prospect of a six game run home against sides with a finals spot on the line. Like the Rabbitohs, the Roosters have got an excellent points difference on their side and if they haven’t reached the safety net of 30 points by round 24, they may just need it. Their final three games are all very losable.

Can Sonny Bill Williams help the Roosters to another crack at a premiership? Pic: Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia

Like they invariably do, the Warriors are in a great position to come home with a wet sail, with one of the kindest runs home in the competition. Only three of the Warriors’ 10 remaining matches are against mid-table competitors, and they play all three sides - Raiders, Sharks, Knights - who look to be consigned to a bottom-four finish. A top four finish is theirs for the taking.

The Broncos have one of the tougher runs home with five games against mid-table opposition and two against top three sides Manly and the Bulldogs. They also have the intimidating task of clashing with a full-strength Storm outfit twice in the run home, and could easily need a win at AAMI Park in the last round of the regular season to secure a playoff berth.

Ben Hunt has been a revelation for the Broncos this season. Pic: Darren England.Source: News Corp Australia

STORM (currently eighth on 20 points)

Round 20: v Broncos (away)

Round 21: v Tigers (away)

Round 25: v Roosters (away)

Round 26: v Broncos (home)

The Storm have a managable run home with games against all three of the bottom three sides and just one against the top three. However, three of their four games against mid-table opponents is away from home and they’d like to win two of those to give them a realistic shot of climbing to the safety of 30 points.

The return of their Origin players will be a boost to the Storm. Pic: Colleen PetchSource: News Corp Australia

DRAGONS (currently ninth on 20 points)

Round 20: v Tigers (away)

Round 21: v Roosters (away)

Round 24: v Titans (home)

Round 25: v Broncos (away)

Two against the top three, two against the bottom three, and four against mid-table opponents. It’s not the most treacherous run home, but with a poor points difference the Dragons have got some serious work to do if they’re to qualify for the eight and probably need to win three of their four “four-point” fixtures. With road trips to Brisbane and Newcastle to finish the season, Paul McGregor’s men will have to target wins against the Tigers, Chooks and Titans to remain a realistic hope.

Can Benji Marshall spark a charge into the eight for the Dragons? Pic: Brett CostelloSource: News Corp Australia

TIGERS (currently 10th on 20 points)

Round 20: v Dragons (home)

Round 21: v Storm (home)

Round 22: v Cowboys (away)

Round 23: v Roosters (home)

If the Tigers can win three games between now and round 24, they’ll fancy their chances of qualifying with wins away to the Raiders and home to the Sharks to close the regular season. To achieve that, their best weapon is their home ground, with games against the Dragons at ANZ Stadium, the Storm at Campbelltown, and the Roosters at Leichhardt. Win those three and the Tigers are as good a chance as any.

Robbie Farah will be the key to a finals push from the Tigers. Pic: Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia

EELS (currently 11th on 20 points)

Round 19: v Rabbitohs (home)

Round 20: v Titans (away)

Last weekend’s thumping for the Warriors could turn out incredibly costly, because they now have the worst points difference of the five sides currently sitting on 20 points. For the Eels it’s now or never, but the softest run home of all the teams in the mid-table bottleneck will give them every opportunity. Of their eight remaining games, the Eels play five matches against teams ranked lower than them, including four against the bottom three sides. If they can knock over the Bunnies this weekend, they’ll be in good shape to put together a late season winning streak.

Jarryd Hayne has been one of the best players in the competition this season. Pic: Gregg PorteousSource: News Corp Australia

With games against all three of the top three still to come, plus a road trip to play South Sydney the Cowboys can just about kiss their chances goodbye already. To qualify for the eight they probably need to win six of their last eight, although an excellent for and against could rescue them if they can scrap to 28 points. Still the mountain looks to steep.

It might be too late for even the great Johnathan Thurston to get the Cowboys to the finals. Pic: Fiona HardingSource: News Corp Australia

TITANS (currently 13th on 18 points)

Round 20: v Eels (home)

Round 21: v Cowboys (away)

Round 22: v Roosters (away)

Round 24: v Dragons (away)

Round 25: v Warriors away)

Probably a stretch to consider the Titans a finals contender, particularly after Sunday’s home loss to the lowly Raiders. They need six wins from eight to be any chance of qualifying, and five of their remaining fixtures are away from home. The Titans are one week away from do-or-die and the odds are heavily stacked against them.

The Titans could be out of the hunt by the time Greg Bird returns from suspension. Pic: Adam HeadSource: News Corp Australia

News.com.au's Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted content and advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.

A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites.